Dr. Laura on the Radio

Menu

When Did Parenting Become Slavery?

America seems to be having a love affair with avoiding child care by the actual parents: “In a city of secret economies, few are as vital to the life of New York as the business of nannies; the legions of women who emancipate high-powered professionals and less glamorous working parents from the duties of child care.”

That was the beginning of a story about New York State instituting “nanny protection laws” which would require paid holidays, sick days, vacation days, overtime wages, and 14 days’ notice or termination pay when their services were no longer needed.

According to The New York Times, some of the resistance to this bill comes from lawmakers who say that this is merely an extension of workplace protection for illegal aliens, as once an employee is hired, state labor laws become enforceable, regardless of the employee’s immigration status. The bill would increase the risks of getting caught for employers who pay nannies “off the books” (i.e., cheating the IRS and their fellow citizens).

But let’s go back to that opening paragraph and the statement that “nannies…emancipate…parents from the duties of daily child care.” [The emphasis is mine]. Whew!

Emancipation is a term used for the proclamation to outlaw slavery. It’s interesting that’s it has been used for describing the supposed-to-be- loving interaction and bond between a child and a mother or father. So, being a parent is tantamount to slavery?? Yes… that’s what feminism has proclaimed for decades.

I’m happy so many legislators are concerned about the financial well-being of illegal alien nannies (and, of course, the legal ones, too). I am not happy that this legislation further cements the idea that having a parent raise their own child is of minimal importance, and the impact this has on the child. It’s just sad.